Wheaton teacher who lives in St. Charles charged with sex assault

WHEATON – A St. Charles man who teaches at Wheaton North High School has been charged with having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a female former student, beginning when the student was 16 years old.

Edwin Klemm, 43, of the 1100 block of Howard Street, St. Charles, was charged this week with 11 counts of criminal sexual assault, felonies punishable by four to 15 years in prison.

According to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, Klemm could face a minimum of 44 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if convicted on the charges in DuPage County.

A DuPage County judge on Wednesday set Klemm’s bond at $600,000, with 10 percent to apply.

According to information supplied by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office, Klemm is alleged to have engaged in sex acts with the former student “on multiple occasions at multiple locations,” including his St. Charles home, in public places and at public gathering places, such as movie theaters, a classroom at the school and in his vehicle.

Prosecutors said at least one of the incidents occurred in Klemm’s home while his daughter was home. Prosecutors said the incidents are believed to have occurred between February 2011 and November 2011.

Prosecutors said the incidents were brought to their attention by the former student’s parents, who found a “love letter” Klemm allegedly wrote to the student. The parents then contacted the DuPage County Children’s Center, who opened an investigation.

“Teachers are role models who students look up to and in whom parents place a great amount of trust,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a prepared statement. “It is alleged that Mr. Klemm used his position of trust and authority to seduce his victim into giving him what he wanted.

“If the allegations against Mr. Klemm are true, he violated that trust in the worst possible way.”

Berlin credited officials at Wheaton North High School for “their complete cooperation” in the investigation.

Klemm is scheduled to next appear in court in DuPage County on April 15.

While at least one of the incidents is alleged to have occurred in Kane County, representatives of Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon’s office declined comment on whether any further charges may be brought against Klemm.

The state’s attorney’s office said its policy is to not comment on “any investigation or potential investigation.”